A trip to the pumpkin patch usually means crisp autumn air, fun mazes, and seasonal treats. It’s a picture-perfect family outing. But sometimes, these cheerful places become the backdrop for events far from ordinary, ranging from the truly shocking to the oddly surprising. Prepare to see pumpkin patches in a new light as we explore 10 times crime broke the autumn calm.
10. The Corn Maze Getaway
In California, a man trying to evade police took an unusual detour through the local Petaluma Pumpkin Patch. Accused of stalking his ex-girlfriend, he fled when officers came to arrest him. His escape route? A complex corn maze. This maze was so well-designed that he managed to hide from police officers and a search helicopter for two full hours! Even an officer familiar with the maze admitted how easy it would be to get lost. Eventually, the man was found hiding in a chicken coop and arrested, bringing peace back to the patch.
9. The Great Pumpkin Heist: 200 Stolen
When you think of robberies, pumpkins might not be the first thing that comes to mind. Yet, Farms View Roadstand in New Jersey was robbed of 200 pumpkins, an act caught on security cameras. This wasn’t a petty theft; the owner stated the pumpkins were worth nearly $3,000. The pumpkin stand owners were so upset by the loss that they offered a cash reward for information about the suspects. The robbery happened in three stages one night, with a vehicle appearing multiple times as a team loaded up the pumpkins. It was a well-planned operation, though the motive remains a mystery. Luckily, the thieves didn’t manage to shut down the family-owned business.
8. Tragic End: Drunk Driver Kills Man Near Patch
October 2018 brought tragedy to Jerry’s Fall Harvest and Sunray Produce in Wisconsin. A local man was hit by a drunk driver while turning into the pumpkin farm’s entrance. He didn’t survive, and his passenger had to be airlifted to a hospital. The farm owner was deeply shaken. The drunk driver, Nicholas Hanley, 46, was arrested. He was charged with vehicular homicide, having a prior DWI conviction, and driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.087. Despite three previous DWI convictions, his license had been restored. In August 2022, Hanley was sentenced to five years in prison.
7. The $2 Pumpkin Trial
Imagine this: a forgetful moment leads to a court case. A woman at McCall’s Pumpkin Patch in New Mexico said she picked up a $2 pumpkin from a display during a date and wandered off, forgetting to pay. When confronted, she claimed she offered to pay, but her request was denied. Instead, she was handcuffed and escorted from the property. The situation escalated when the couple went to court. The magistrate ruled based on the intent to steal, not the item’s value. Consequently, they were found guilty of shoplifting an item valued at $250 or less. Their sentence? Forty hours of community service each and $73 in court fees—all over a pumpkin worth less than $5.
6. Brave Boy Fends Off Corn Maze Attacker
A fun day took a terrifying turn for two brothers in a California pumpkin farm’s corn maze. After getting separated from their family, the younger brother noticed two suspicious men tailing them. Before they could escape, one man allegedly grabbed the younger boy by the arm and tried to drag him away. In a brave move, the older brother kicked the man “in the crotch.” The boys then managed to flee the maze and find their family, who called the police.
5. Political Rally Arrest at a Pumpkin Farm
Burt’s Pumpkin Farm in Georgia became the unexpected setting for a high-profile court case. A journalist was arrested for filming at a political rally held there. Tensions flared when a political candidate questioned why she was filming. Feeling uneasy, the property owners called in local law enforcement. The journalist stated she had permission to film and continued, leading to her forceful removal. Chaos ensued as the officer reportedly didn’t identify himself, resulting in a scuffle and her arrest. The case, which all started at a family pumpkin farm, dragged on for years. Ultimately, the journalist avoided jail time, paying a $1,000 fine and completing community service to clear the misdemeanor charge from her record.
4. ATM Snatched: $19,000 Gone from Pumpkin Patch
Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Farm in Redlands thought they were providing a convenience with an on-site ATM. They didn’t anticipate it becoming a target. One night, two men in a van drove to the pumpkin patch, cut the ATM’s security cord, loaded the entire machine into their rental van, and drove off. They were caught on surveillance discarding the machine after breaking into it. Authorities later recovered it and determined the thieves had taken $19,000. Both men were eventually arrested, sentenced to jail, and police even recovered $2,000 of the stolen money.
3. Intoxicated Man Spits on Deputy in Corn Maze
At McCall’s Pumpkin Patch, the same place as the $2 pumpkin incident, another dramatic event unfolded nearly a decade later. A man from New Mexico decided to navigate the corn maze while intoxicated. Law enforcement intervened when he began harassing and headbutting actors working in the maze. Deputies noted the smell of alcohol on his breath as he became confrontational and refused to leave peacefully. After being handcuffed, he spat in a deputy’s face. His disruptive behavior reportedly continued all the way to jail, much to his friends’ embarrassment.
2. Teenagers Assault Girls After Social Media Challenge
A social media video challenging viewers to “wreck mayhem” had serious consequences at Roca Berry Farm in Nebraska. A group of teenagers took the challenge, resulting in injuries to two girls, aged 13 and 14. The girls required hospital treatment for non-serious injuries. Police used the Snapchat video to help identify the suspects. In response, the pumpkin patch increased its security and now requires children under 15 to be accompanied by an adult.
1. The Great Zebra Escape: A Police Chase with a Twist!
Drivers near Goebbert’s Pumpkin Patch and Apple Orchard in Chicago witnessed a truly unusual police chase one afternoon. Two zebras had escaped from the petting zoo at the local pumpkin patch! The Illinois State Police had to team up with zoo personnel to manage the wild situation. The zebras enjoyed their freedom for about two hours before they were safely captured. It’s fair to say the zebras probably didn’t realize that running from the police was a crime, but it certainly made for a memorable day!
Conclusion
Who knew a simple pumpkin patch could be the stage for such a variety of criminal and an_mal-related escapades? These stories remind us that the unexpected can happen anywhere, even amidst the hay bales and pumpkin spice. While most visits to these autumn attractions are filled with harmless fun, these ten instances prove that sometimes, things can get a little wild, weird, or downright unlawful.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever seen or heard happening at a seasonal attraction? Share your stories in the comments below!
